The best meatball recipes of 2018

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In our quest to assemble the top comfort food recipes of 2018, we couldn't skip over the mighty meatball. Whether it's a cold rainy night after a hard day's work, or a Saturday afternoon party with friends, nothing beats the tender, hearty, juicy goodness of homemade meatballs. A not-so-distant cousin of the dinner staple, meatloaf, simply forming the same ground meat into bite-sized balls instantly transforms it into the perfect accompaniment to any meal or a delectable standalone snack. Over the past year, we've tried dozens of meatball recipes, but only a handful made the cut into our list of the best meatball recipes of 2018. Check out our picks below!
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Meatball Stroganoff
Italy meets Russia in this take on a classic beef stroganoff. Juicy, bite-sized meatballs replace the traditional steak as the protein in this hybrid dish, and savory baby portobello mushrooms and tender egg noodles fill out this creamy, hearty meal. This dish really is perfect for the whole family. What kid doesn't like meatballs? The recipe below calls for ground beef, but that could also be substituted with ground pork, chicken or turkey. Whatever meat you choose, be sure to cook it thoroughly.
Get the recipe: Meatball Stroganoff
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Cheesy Garlic & Meatball Rolls
Meatball subs may seem like a great dish to make for game day, but they're messy and can be difficult to eat. The recipe that follows, however, gives guests all the deliciousness that comes with those subs without worrying about how everyone's going to eat them while huddled around the TV. Other than making your guests very happy, you will have also done it without breaking a sweat.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Garlic & Meatball Rolls
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Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Meatball Sliders
There's something about making burgers tiny and perfect for fitting in one hand that makes them irresistible. Now imagine if you took those small sliders and subbed out the burger for a meatball or two, then you gave them the royal treatment by smothering them in marinara sauce and cheese. It's definitely hard to resist, just as the recipe that follows proves.
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Vegetarian Lentil Meatballs
"Meatballs" don't need to contain any meat at all to be umami-rich and delicious — you just need to get a bit creative! The recipe below allows you to create meatballs out of a combination of protein-rich lentils and umami-rich mushrooms, for meatballs that are delicious served over pasta or on their own.
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Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Looking for an easy but delicious dinner idea? Look no further! These slow-cooker sweet-and-sour meatballs are sweet and tangy. They have the usual sweet and sour flavors that you would expect from a Chinese restaurant, but no food coloring! Be sure to check out the recipe below.
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Mac 'n Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
This granddaddy of meatballs comes straight from our Best Comfort Food Recipes of 2018. It's hard to say no to mac 'n cheese, and it's hard to say no to meatballs, but together? Your family and friends don't stand a chance. That is, if there's even any leftover once you're done with them. This recipe is for a meatloaf dish, but just form them into spheres instead of a log and you'll have these legendary mac 'n cheese-filled gems.
Each one of these meatball recipes was a valiant contender for joining our best comfort food recipes of 2018, but as with all competitions, only the best can make it to the final list. If you loved these recipes, you'll definitely want to check out our picks.
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